Help for you

As a carer, you're likely to need your local healthcare services more than you did before you started caring. Your GP surgery is your first stop for both physical and mental health problems. Knowing who’s who in your local health team and what they do will help you make the most of the services available.

GPs are important in your healthcare. They have consultations with patients where they listen to a description of their symptoms and examine them. They diagnose patients’ conditions, then prescribe treatment or refer them for tests or to specialists, who are experts in different conditions. Some GPs have done extra training in certain areas (such as diabetes) and are known as General Practitioners with a Specialist Interest (GPwSI). These GPs can give more specialist care for certain conditions, without sending a patient to a hospital specialist.

Practice nurse

Practice nurses (there’s usually more than one at a surgery) have a wide-ranging role. You’ll probably see a practice nurse if you need your blood pressure checked, to find out the results of a blood or smear test or if you need a flu jab. Practice nurses often run clinics for conditions such as asthma, diabetes or high blood pressure.

Nurse practitioners

These are nurses who have done further training to deal with less serious health problems, such as rashes, sore throats and blocked ears. They can prescribe medicines in certain circumstances.

Nurse independent prescribers

These nurses have done extended training. They can prescribe licensed medicines for certain conditions (as long as they're regarded as being competent in that medical area).

District nurses

These nurses visit people in their district, their GP surgery, their own homes or in nursing homes. They see people who need blood glucose checks, those who need help with their dressings or to take their medicines, people who have just come out of hospital or who are elderly or have a disability.

Health visitors

These are registered nurses who have done extra training and work with different health-related organisations. Their job is to promote good health and help people learn how to prevent illness. They may work with new mothers or people with long-term illnesses or disabilities.

Practice manager

This person’s job is to make sure everything at the GP surgery runs smoothly. They're responsible for anything from ordering supplies to dealing with patients’ complaints.

Surgery receptionist

The receptionists at your GP surgery are good people to get to know as they have a wealth of knowledge. They make appointments for you to see the members of your local medical team and will know the days and times of the different clinics. They can tell you everything from what services are available at your local surgery to whether your prescription is ready to be collected.